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Hardaway, Dawson Podium in Japan

Iizuna Kogen, Japan, Feb. 12, 2001--In the last FIS Freestyle World Cup prior to the season finals, Hannah Hardaway (Moultonborough, NH) tooksecond and Toby Dawson (Vail, CO) placed third in a moguls contest on the '98 Olympic hill in Japan. Finn Mikko Ronkainen and Norwegian KariTraa were the victors.

Ronkainen won with a score of 27.07 and was followed by Canadian Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau (26.84) and Dawson (26.66). Ryan Riley(Steamboat Springs, CO) was fifth (26.05), Chris Hernandez (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) was seventh (25.84) and Evan Dybvig (Tunbridge, VT) was 12th(4.56).

With powerhouse Finn Janne Lahtela out of the competition after suffering a left knee injury in duals Saturday, the contest was anyone's to win.Ronkainen took advantage of the situation and picked up his second win of the season and third of his career.

Dawson launched several big airs off the jumps and collected the highest air points of the day. It was his second career World Cup podium ashe took third at Mt. Tremblant, Quebec last season. The finish moved him from 17th to 10th on the World Cup points list, assuring him a spot onthe roster for World Cup Finals.

The U.S. men's squad is concentrating solely on training for and competing in singles events as that is the Olympic discipline.

Traa, the World Cup points leader, won with a score of 25.25. Hardaway followed with a 25.20 and Japan's Aiko Uemura was third, posting a24.69. Ann Battelle (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished just off the podium in fourth with a 24.15. Donna Weinbrecht (Killington, VT) took seventh(23.89) and Jillian Vogtli (Park City, UT) was 11th (22.65).

Out of the six World Cup events this season, Traa has won all but one. At Deer Valley, Utah, she placed second behind Hardaway as the NewHampshire native won her first career World Cup.

Hardaway recorded the highest turns score of the contest and finished behind Traa by only .05.